Face shield for use with respirators



F 15, 1949- G. H. SCHAUWEKER 2,462,005

FACE SHIELD FOR USE WITH RESPIRATORS Filed Sept. 27, 1947 INVENTOR. GEORGE H. scHAuwEKaz ATTORNEY pirator.

Patented Feb. 15, 1949 FACE SHIELD FOR- USE WITH RESPIRATOR-S George H. Schauweker, .Southbridge, Mass, as-

signor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application September 27, 1947, Serial No. 776,535,

10 Claims.

This invention covers a combined respirator and face shield and has particular reference to detachable and interchangeable face protecting shields for respirators.

It is common practice in this field to provide respirators with face shields. However, it is uncommon to find face shields which are interchangeable with a number of respirators. Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved face shield adaptable for and interchangeable with various types of respirators.

Another object is to provide a face shield for respirators having means for easily attaching and detaching the shield from the respirator.

Another object is the provision of face shields for respirators which may be simply made from fiat sheets of transparent material and which assume a cup-like shape to cover the major portion of the face of the wearer when attached to a res- Other objects of the invention are to provide a shield of such construction as to give the maxi mum angle of vision and protection to the face of the wearer, to provide inconspicuous and secure attachment of the shield to the respirator, and to provide a shield of light weight and neat appearance.

Further objects are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a face shield for respirators which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, thoroughly efficient in its use, readily assembled and comparatively economical to manufacture.

Other objects-and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined 'respirator and face shield constructed according to and embodying the invention, and shown in posiv tion on the face of a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a sectional fragmentary view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a face shield showing the means for attaching it to a respirator;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the face shield; and Fig.5 is a sectional view of the snap fastener arrangement for attaching the face shield to the respirator.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises broadly a res- 2 pirator including a face piece 6 shaped to snugly fit over the lower portions of the wearers face covering entirely the nose and mouth and being held securely in position by a headband 1 connected to opposite sides of the face piece 6 and adapted to extend around the wearers head.

The usual inhalation means is provided on the face piece 6 in the nasal region thereof and is illustrated as a cylindrical filter cartridge 8 attached by suitable means to a plate-like supporting member 9 located 'on the front of the face piece 6 and carrying an inhalation flutter valve [0. The usual exhalation means is provided adjacent the mouth of the wearer and is shown as a depending tubular member I I on the face piece 6 and carrying at its lower extremity the exhalation flutter valve I2. The walls of the face piece 6 are pliable and shaped to conform generally to the shape of the wearers face and when drawn snugly thereagainst by tightening the straps l, the edges thereof provide an air-tight seal therearound. This will prevent dust, dirt, sparks or foul air from reaching the respiratory tract of the wearer. Howeventhe eyes-of the wearer are unprotected from the foreign material such as sparks or emery dust which may be present and which might cause injury to the eyes or the face of the wearer. Therefore, there is provided a detachable and in-' terchangeable face shield [3 formed of transparent flexible sheet material, such as a synthetic plastic or the like, and adapted to be easily attached to respirators of the kind described above and comprising a thin rectangular piece of the pliable transparent material having rounded corners and shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 4.

Centrally located near the lower edge of the shield is an opening l4, and a pair of downwardly extending convergent straps l5 formed integral with the lower edge of the shield have their ends spaced below the opening M in a manner asto provide a passageway into the opening. One of the straps I5 is provided near the end thereof with a male clip portion lB-of a snap fastener adapted to be connected with a female portion it! carried by the other strap 15. Minute details of the snap fastener 'arenot deemed necessaryv in this specification since-many suitable types of snap fasteners are available which are adaptable to this invention. Therefore, it is believed advisable only to relate brieflythat as shown in Fig. 5 the female portion I! of the fastener has aniriternal flanged portion l8 adapted to secure one of the straps 15 between themain member I! and said flanged portion l8, and the male pordouble thickness with the edges of the shield I3- being located between the two layers of the binding. The binding may be made of any suitable material such as soft leather or a substitute-therefor or any other fabric materialsuitable for these purposes, the binding being attached as above described and secured permanently in position by stitching as indicated by numeral 22. thus forming a protective and reinforcing rim about the shield I3 to prevent the shield from becoming torn along its exposed edges.

In positioning the shield on arespirator, the shield is located over the front of the respirator between the face piece 6 and the cartridge supporting member 9. To attach the shield to the respirator, the straps I5 are spread and the shield I3 pulled down over the top of the respirator with the connecting area between the cartridge supporting member 9 and face piece 6 being positioned in the shield opening I4, and the straps I5 extending below the face piece 6 and into the space between the lower contour edge of the member 9 and the front of the depending tubular exhalation valve carrying member II. With the shield I3 in this position, the straps I5 can be drawn together and the snap fastener closed to seal the opening I4 so that the shield can not become displaced. Also, drawing together the straps I5 will cause the shield; to bend and assume a cup-like concave shape, thus projecting the top and sides of the shield rearwardly to covera greater portion of the face of the wearer.

When it is desired to substitute one face shield for another, or to change a face shield from one respirator to another respirator, the straps I5 are merely snapped loose by releasing the female portion I! from the male portion I 6 of the snap fastener and the straps I 5 drawn away from one another to open the passageway into the opening I 4, flattening thesurface contour of the shield I3, and the shield may then be pulled upwardly to disconnect it from the respirator.

Thus, from the foregoing description it can be understood that a faceshield of this type can be very economically made and emcient in its use, and also can be readily attached, removed and replaced. It is quite apparent that when the shield is applied to a respirator and in fitted relation to the wearers face, by virtue of its shape no foreign harmful matter can gain access to the face or eyes from the front. The snap fastener acting in conjunction with the straps acts to retain the shield in fixed relation to the respirator, and the binding serves efficiently to protect the exposed edges of the shield to assure longer life thereof. The device is extremely light in weight,

neat in appearance and comfortable in use, and when not in use the shield is so constructed as to occupy a minimum of space.

However, it is to be understood that several changes or modifications may be made and that although the construction of the respirator is herein described as havingfa face piece 6 provided with frontal inhalation means and depending exhalation means, the shield maybe used with severaldifferent types of respirators. It is 4 also to be understood that although the description hereinbefore refers to a headband attached to the sides of the respirator face piece and extending around the wearers head, the headband may be of any of the known commercially used types connected by a suitable buckle .or fastening device to secure the respiratorto the wearer's head. The snap fastener shows one convenient means of securing the ends of the shield straps together but it is to be understood that other suitable mechanical means may be employed.

It will be aparent that many changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts shownand described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. Therefore it is to be understood that all matter set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is tube interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A face shield comprising a flatsubstantially rectangular transparent member having a central opening near the lower edge thereof, a binder covering a major portion of the periphery of saidmember, convergent straps formed integral with the lower edge of said member adj acentsaid open-l ing and extending downwardly and convergently, the ends thereof being spaced to provide a passageway into said opening, and fastening means secured near the ends of said straps, the straps being adapted to be drawn into lapping relation to bring the fastening means into functioning position, to close the passageway into said opening, and to cause the transparent member toassume a cup-like shape. I

2. A face shield for use with respirators COD-7 sisting of a flat substantially rectangular shaped transparent member having a central-opening near the lower edge thereof adapted to receive a portion of a respirator, and convergent straps formed integral with thelower edge of said transparent member and partially-enclosing said open.- ing, the ends of the straps being spaced and adapted to be placed in lapping relation to secure the transparent member to the respirator and to cause the transparentmember to assume acuplike shape.

3. A face shield for use with respiratorsqconsisting of a flat substantially rectangular shaped transparent member having a central opening near. the lower edge thereof adapted to receive a portion of a respirator, binding material covering a major portionof the periphery of the transparent member, and, converging straps formed integral-with the lower edge of said transparent member and partially' enclosing said opening, the ends of the straps being spaced and adapted to beplaced in lapping relation to secure the transparent member to the respirator and to cause the transparent member to assume a. cuplike shape. 7

4. A face shield for use with respirators consisting of a flat substantially rectangular shaped transparent member having central opening near the lower edge thereof adapted to receive a portion of a respirator, convergent: straps formed integral with the'lower edge of said transparent member and partially enclosing said opening, the ends of the straps being spacednnd adapted to be placed in lapping relationto secure the transparent member to the respirator and to cause the transparent member to 'assume a'cup like shape, and fastening means secured neuthe ends of said straps and adapted to be brought into functioning position upon the lapping of said straps.

5. A face shield for use with respirators con-- sisting of a fiat substantially rectangular shaped transparent member having a central opening near the lower edge thereof adapted to receive a portion of a respirator, binding material covering a major portion of the periphery of the transparent member, convergent straps formed integral with the lower edge of said transparent member and partially enclosing said opening, the ends of the straps being spaced and adapted to be placed in lapping relation to secure the transparent member to the respirator and to cause the transparent member to assume a cup-like shape, and fastening means provided near the ends of said straps and adapted to be brought into functioning position upon the lapping of said straps.

6. A face shield for use with respirators consisting of a flat substantially rectangular shaped transparent member having a central opening near the lower edge thereof adapted to receive a portion of a respirator, a pair of spaced straps formed integral with the lower edge of said transparent member adjacent said opening and extending downwardly and convergently, binding material covering the entire periphery of the transparent member with the exception of the portions adjacent said opening and said straps, and fastening means provided near the ends of said straps, the straps being adapted to be placed in lapping relation to place the fastening means in functioning position and to cause the transparent member to assume a cup-like shape to substantially cover a, major portion of the face of the wearer not covered by the respirator.

'7. In a combined face shield and respirator adapted to be positioned on the face of a wearer, the combination of a face piece adapted to fit snugly over the nose and mouth of the wearer, exhalation means located on the face piece in the lower regions thereof, inhalation means located on the front of the face piece, a transparent face shield to be attached to the respirator and having a, central opening near the lower edge thereof adapted to receive said inhalation means, and means for securing the face shield to the respirator consisting of a pair of spaced downwardly extending convergent straps formed integral with the lower edge of the shield and adapted to project beneath said inhalation means and to be drawn together in lapping relation to secure the shield to the respirator and to cause the shield to assume a cup-like shape to cover a major portion of the wearers face not covered by the face piece.

8. In a combined face shield and respirator adapted to be positioned on the face of a wearer,

the combination of a face piece adapted to fit snugly over the nose and mouth of the wearer, exhalation means located on the face piece in the lower regions thereof, inhalation means located on the front of the face piece, a transparent face shield tobe attached to the respirator and having a central opening near the lower edge thereof adapted to receive said inhalation means, a, binder covering a major portion of the periphery of the face shield, and means for securing the face shield to the respirator consisting of a pair of spaced downwardly extending convergent straps formed integral with the lower edge of the shield and adapted to project beneath said inhalation means and to be drawn together in lapping relation to secure the shield to the respirator and to cause the shield to assume a cup-like shape to cover a major portion of the wearers face not covered by the face piece.

9. In a combined face shield and respirator adapted to be positioned on the face of a wearer, the combination of a face piece adapted to fit snugly over the nose and mouth of the wearer, exhalation means located on the face piece in the lower regions thereof, inhalation means located on the front of the face piece, a face shield to be attached to the respirator and having a central opening near the lower edge thereof adapted to receive said inhalation means, a binder covering a major portion of the periphery of the face shield, means for securing the face shield to the respirator consisting of a pair of spaced downwardly extending convergent straps formed integral with the lower edge of the shield and adapted to project beneath said inhalation means and to be drawn together in lapping relation to secure the shield to the respirator and to cause the shield to assume a cup-like shape to cover a major portion of the wearers face not covered by the face piece, and fastening means provided near the ends of said straps and adapted to be brought into functioning position upon the lapping of said straps to prevent displacement of the shield with respect to the face piece.

10. A face shield comprising a substantially fiat transparent member having a cut-out portion in the lower edge thereof, said shield having convergent straps on the opposed sides of said cut-out portion with the ends thereof normally in spaced relation to provide a passageway into said cut-out portion, and fastening means near the ends of said straps.

GEORGE H. SCHAUWEKER.

No references cited. 

